Maybe I’m insecure and have way too much regard for others’ opinions of me. I don’t like saying ‘I love you’ because I don’t want there to ever come a time when they doubt my love. I get mad a lot. I get attitudes. But I still love you.

I once told someone I loved them before they ever said it to me. For a couple days, I had that take-my-love-back feeling since I was in limbo waiting for them to return the phrase. Then after a while, I let it sink in. I love you. That’s how Rhonda felt; Rhonda doesn’t control your actions, only hers. Eventually…they said it back.

In another incident, I said ‘I love you’ to someone following a very intense argument. The way they snapped, “And I love you, too” back at me wasn’t convincing at all! Where is your love in the midst of those harsh words you just spoke? Then I began to doubt their love for me.

So what does it really mean to say ‘I love you’? And what does it mean to hear it back at you? My guess is all of our interpretations are different. But one thing’s for sure: love doesn’t hurt.